California turns to its traffic jams to produce electricity

We are all familiar with the frustrating experience of being caught in traffic jams but the state of California plans to turn the table with an ambitious $2 million project.

The California Energy Commission is in the process of testing whether piezoelectric crystals, installed under the asphalt, can convert the mechanical energy of moving vehicles into useful power, writes Business Insider.

Israel, Italy and the city of Tokyo fancied the concept and have already given up owing to issues of economic viability but California believes that those challenges might not be present in the state, notes Grist.